The National tribune., 1887-08-25
Practical Duties Taught bI Study OF the Inter
national Suuday-schOOl Lesson Appointed for
Sept. 4. ~. Matt, 6:2i-3i.


SUBJECT: THE SIN OF DIsTRUsTrNG COP BY
OvER-ASXIErY As TO THE FUTURE.
In addition to reading the lesson critically,
the student should examine ST. Matt, 10 %
81; st. Luke, 1876, z, and 22-3l; 81 Is.
Much trouble has occurred by the rendering
OF the present English Version, take no
thought for Tomorrow" The Revised Edition
translates thus, BE not therefore anxious for
the morrow" This is much better reading
more true 10 the original aud hence more in
accordance with the general principles OF good
judgment aud warranted prudence. Too in
tense anxiety about the future is evidence of
distrust in God. Words change their mean
ings. Formerly the word thought" meant a
painful state of mind. caused, C. a., by n lack of
confidence in Providence. Now the word is
used in purely intellectual sense.
Christ lays down the principle that we ought
to have such trust in Gods love, power, sup
plies as not TO lose heart with reference TO the
days to come. Then he proceeds to state
series of arguments in support of his exhorta-
tion that we should not be over-soicitous about
the tomorrow. Let us consider these argu-
ments seridtim.
l. Take no thought for your life. what We
shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet for
your body, what We shall put on" Why? "Is
not the life more than meat, and the body than
raimentf" Let us now connect question and
answer and see what Christ means. BY life"
here we understand the principle of physical
existence, whatever this be. We have no fixed
definition of the principle of vitality. Let it
be what it may, it is certainly more than meat,
just as the body is OF greater Importance than
the clothing we put on it. But who gave us
life? Our Father in Heaven. But if he give
us life, will he not bestOw on us meat, which is
gift so inferior to life? If he give us the
greater will he not the less2 Having bestowed
life, Will he be so cruel as to furnish no way
for It's support? BE it far from us to be so dis
trnstiul. And, also, be sure God, who has given
Us bodies and placed Us in world of such eli
mates as on our earth, will provide means by
which we can secure comfortable clothing. Life
and body being from him. are in themselves
actual signs and pledges that he will so adjust
circumstances that we can obtain needful meat
and raiment. And is il not so? Seeds bring
forth 30, 60, 100-fold. Tho fowls of the air,
and tho cattle on thousand hills, and the
game of the forests are for our meat. And as
10 raimant, who can be solicitous when he
thinks how willing mother earth is to furnish
cotton; how industriously the silkworm works;
how plenteOusy our sheep abound in wool. aud
how the hOrdes Of animals are being uncOthed
that we may have raimant2 In this fruitful
world no industrious, provident, persevering
man need fret himself about meat, drink and
clothing. IL is an insult to God TO be anxious
about the support of life aud the apparel of
body. Do not imagine God cruel monster.
(See Ps, 81 %; Gen, 8: %. Remember the
5000 and the 4 900 whom Christ fcd)
.. "No thought for tomorrow" Why? "Be-
hold the fowls of the air; for they sow not,
neither do they reap nor gather into barns;
yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are
ye not much better than theyP" Why should
men and women fret about the future? Are
they not of moro consequence in Gods sight
than fowls &rer Will God feed his fowls aud
let his children perish If we be rs diligent
as fowls are 10 get a living, we shall have
plenty. They have TO scratch for their food.
Even the death Of sparrow attracts the atten-
ton of God. We. then, shall not be in peril of
death and God remain Indifferent Sparrows
can be bought for three-fonTths OF 4 cent each.
God has put high price on us. He gave his
Son in our interest. DO not be distrustful
about tomorrow. Confide in God for eternity.
g. Take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat or what We shall drink: nor yet for
your body what yc shall put on" Why? Hear
Christs reply: (which of you by taking
thought can add one cubit TO your stature?"
Here is the third argument enforcing the duty
OF not indulging in uneasincss, fretfulness,
anxiety, distrust as 10 the future. 1t is Of no
use for you TO do so. Anxiety will not alter
the matter. Which Of you can add cubit to
your stature? This is out of your power So
is the to-m morrow. If you wished every hour OF
addition TO your stature, it would not aid you
at all.
If we understand the verse as relating 10
stature, there is some trouble in explaining it.
lt would seem Christ's purpose was to show we
cannot do very little thing. (St. Luke, l2 :26.)
But il would be a moustrous marvel to add ~
inches all Of sudden 10 the hight Of an adult
Some therefore render age instead of stature In
st. John, :2l, the same Greek word is rendered
age. We often speak of the length of life.
Christ then meant, who can add a moment TO
his life. St. Paul represents life as race course
The Greeks looked at life as "A measured exist
ence. They had one God (or Fate who spun
out the thread of life, and another who cut it
off
4. Take no thought for your life. what We
shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for
your body what We shall put on" Why2
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow !;
they toll not, neither do they spin and vet l
say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore
il God so clOthe the grass of the field which to-
day IS, and tomorrow is cast into the oven
shall he not much more clothe you, o We of
little faithg Therefore take no thought saw
ing. what shall we eat or what shall We drink T?
or. Wherewithal shall we be clothed2" DO not
be distrustful. COnfide in the same God who
gives beauty, flavor. nourishment to the vege-
table world. Lilies here probably stand for all
the productions of the soil. In V. 30, the word
grass is used in the same sense All were
brought forth for our food, use and endowment
Perhaps the lily was selected so as to have a
parallelism Of colors. SOlomon's robe of state
was white probably.
The lily SO fair,
Aud raven so black,
lie nurses with care.
Then how shall lacS?"
Is God more attentive to man than to the
N.NV -. 4. Al.
sun shines no more brightly on man-the rain
falls no more cOpiously. Herbs. birds, beasts
all share these with men. All thirst and all
drink of the same streams. And all die
Man goes down TO the grave just as the bird
falls aud the flower withers. Everything de-
yelOps, decays and dies, corresponding with
infancy, manhood, age and death of the hu-
man. Is there any difference between man
and the vegetable wOrld2 Naturally there
seems not. But We have souls. We can think
aud philosophers Vegetables are for our use
Ii God care so much for these secondary things,
If he paint the flower so beautifully, if he so
olothe the grass-if so sOattentive To these things
which last but day. will you be over anxious
about his care of you; yOufwho outlive birds,
beasts, flowers you who are never To die; you
for whom the vegetable kingdom was made?
3. Take no thought" Why? after all
these things do the gentiles seek" We ought
10 he ashamed 10 be distrustful as the heathen
They have no clear ideas Of Providence They
do not know of the love of Christ. No wonder
they shOnld have great anxiety about the
future. But it Is scandalOus for US who know
God so well to be all the time uneasy about to-
morrow miserable lest we may get out of food
and raiment.
No thonpht about to.mnrrow Wby .